Finish 2024 Strong: A Fresh Start for Q4

September 25, 2024

Can you believe it? In just under a week, we’ll be stepping into the final quarter of 2024. WOW! How did we get here so fast?

For me, the start of Q4 means cracking open a new planner. I’ve been loyal to the Full Focus Planner since it launched in 2017. One of my favorite features? The fact it’s a quarterly planner! Every quarter feels like a fresh start—an opportunity to reevaluate goals and focus on what really matters.

One challenge I’ve had this year? Carving out dedicated podcast time. Without a commute and with a preference for reading while on the treadmill, my usual listening time has disappeared. We’ve also been dogless for over two years now, and I used to get my podcast fix while walking our pup. But the other day, while doing dishes (a chore I’m not a fan of), I had an aha moment: Why not pair something I enjoy with something I don’t? Now I’m listening to podcasts while doing housework!

This morning, while tackling dishes I’d rather not mention, I caught the latest episode of Focus on This with Marissa Hyatt from the Full Focus Company. The episode got me thinking—how do I want to finish 2024 strong?

I highly recommend checking out the episode, but here are my Big 3 takeaways (pun totally intended).

Takeaway #1: Limit Your Focus

You don’t need to conquer the world in Q4. Focus on just 2-3 major goals. As someone high in both Adaptability® and Ideation®, this can be tough for me. I love exploring new ideas, but I know if I want to finish the year feeling successful, I need to focus.

For Q4, I’m focusing on my health and launching a new service in my private coaching practice. My third goal is more fluid—being the best mental health coach I can be for my clients.

Takeaway #2: Simplify Your Daily Focus

Quarterly goals are great, but how do they translate into daily action? Enter the Daily Big 3. Each day, I determine the three most important things I need to accomplish. It doesn’t mean I only do three things, but it helps me focus on doing the right three things.

On days packed with coaching clients, the most important task for me is staying present and focused with each person I serve. That’s my Big 3 on those days.

Takeaway #3: Create a Strong Finish

Marissa talked about the rituals embedded in the Full Focus Planner, and this hit home for me. In the past seven years, I’ve been inconsistent with these rituals, especially after leaving higher education. My excuse? My mornings are unpredictable.

But Marissa focused on a workday shutdown and evening rituals  —things that set us up for success the next day. I realized: Why not start planning the night before? Whether my morning starts at 6 a.m. or 11 a.m., strong evening rituals mean I’ll be ready to hit the ground running.

What about you? How do you want to close out 2024? Which one of these takeaways speaks to you? If you’re feeling stuck, let’s connect. I’d love to help you finish the year with a bang!